Pipe press



May 28, 1940. R. TEMPLE, JR

PIPE PRESS Filed Nov. 19, 1938 IN VENT? I ATTORNEYS Patented May "UNI EDSTATES ATE T OFFICE Y PIPE mass Robert Temple, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa.Application November is, 1938; Serial'No. 241,471

' 9 Claims. (01. 140-113) This invention relates to methods andapparatus for forming joints, and more particularly is concerned withexplosively actuated apparatus and the use of controlled explosive forcefor joining together tubular members, such as pipes and the'like.

It is the general object 'of my invention to provide improved methodsand apparatus for joining tubular conduits and the like together end toend.

Another object of myinvention is the provision of a relatively lightweight, easily operated apparatus for joining pipes together by adetonated explosivecharge.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an improved methodfor joining pipes and similar members together end to end and whereinthe. members are first squeezed to an elliptical shape and arethereafter reduced in diameter allin die sizes are readily effected.

The foregoing and other objects of my invention are achieved by theprovision of apparatus for compressing a tubular member which in cludesa frame having a bore therein, a cylinder adjustably received in thebore, a piston slidably mounted in the cylinder, an anvil carried by theframe in-alignment with the movement of the piston, and complementarydies 'removably carried by the piston and the anvil. Completing thecombination are means for advancing the cylinder in the frameto bringthe dies into engagement'with the tubular member, and means associatedwith the cylinder for removably receiving and detonating an explosivecharge behind the piston to force the dies into engagement aroundthe-tubular member.

squeezed to an elliptical shape by the force of a detonated explosivecharge which effects a subsequent impacting of the tubular members to acircular shape of reduced diameter.

For a better understanding of my invention reference should be had tothe accompanying drawing wherein Fig; 1 is a front elevation of anapparatus comprising one embodiment of my in- Vention; and Fig. 2 is avertical cross sectional view taken on the line II--II of Fig. 1.

In the drawing the numeral Ill indicates generally a frame which isprovided with a bore 12 adapted to adjustably receive. a cylinder M, as,for example, by the provision of complementary Acme threads 16. Thecylinder I4 slidably receives a piston 18 for reciprocating'movementtoward and from an anvil portion 2|] formed on the frame H). Generallythe anvil portion 20 takesthe form of a C-shaped extension 22 of theframe Ill, but it should be appreciated that instead of taking a C shapethe support for the anvil may take the form of a U 'to thereby provide aleg on each side of the anvil.

The piston I 8 andthe anvil Zll removably carry a pair of semi-circulardies marked 2 3. The upper die 24 is removably carried by the piston l8,as, for example, by providing a stud 26 on the top of the die which isreceived in a recess 28 in the end of the piston. A spring-presseddetent 30 carried by the end of the'piston 58 engages with the stud 26to releasably hold it in the recess 28. I have found that using a rubberplug 3i as the spring element or using a metal spring with a cylindricalplug of rubber molded around it provides a structure which is longerlived and less subject to breakage than a standard coiled compressionspring of metal. The lower die 2% is formed with a tapped opening 32into which is threaded a cap screw 36 which is slidably carried in arecess 36 formed in the bottom of the anvil 20. A compression spring 38carried between the head of the cap screw 33 and an appropriate shoulderin the recess 36 normally urgesthe cap screw and thus the lower die 2tdown into firm load-bearing relation with the upper complementarysurface of the anvil 20. I preferably form the upper and lower dies 24with a plurality of relatively narrowcircumferentially extending ribs 25which are spaced longitudinally of the dies. In the operation of theapparatus the ribs form a series of longitudinally spacedcircumferential grooves which improve the already excellent seal andmechanical strength of the joint.

The cylinder I4 is provided with suitable means, such as handles 40,whereby it can be rotated to move the cylinder in and out of the borel2. In order to prevent the upper die 24 from rotating with the cylinderl 4 and thus getting out of alignment with the bottom die, I providesome means for holding the upper die 24 against rotation whilepermitting it to have sliding vertical movement. Such means have beenshown in the accompanying drawing as including a groove 44 5s formed inthe side of the frame Ill. The groove 44 receives the end of a pin 46carried by the upper die 24.

The end of the cylinder 84 is adapted to removably receive an explosivecharge for moving the piston I8 and to this end a boss 50 is formedintegral with the cylinder I4. The boss 50 and the cylinder I4 areprovided with an axial bore 52 which at one end is open to the piston l8and which at the other end is slightly enlarged to receive an explosivecharge which is conveniently in the form of a blank cartridge 54. Theend of the boss 50 is reduced in diameter and is covered by an ejectorcap'56 which is preferably threaded thereon with a coarse Acme thread 51so that a slight turn of the cap lifts it to eject a fired cartridge 54from the bore 52. The periphery of the boss 50 is threaded and removablyreceives a breech-block 58 which is provided with a firing pin 60carried in an axial bore by a collar 62 which is locked in place by ascrew 64.

I preferably provide some means for lubricating the movement of thepiston l8 in the cylinder 14 and such means may conveniently take theform of a drilled hole 10 positioned off center of the piston I8 andconnected by a standard lubricating gun fitting 12 with theoutersurfa'ce of the piston head. The end of the drilled hole I0 isplugged by a member 14, as will be understood. Cooperating with thedrilled hole 10 are a plurality of circumferentially extending grooves16 which are connected by suitable passages to the drilled hole.

It is believed that the operation of the apparatus will be understoodfrom the foregoing description. However, briefly reviewing theoperation, the telescoped tubular members marked T and T, and, forexample, in the form of a coupling sleeve and a tube, are positioned onthe lower die 24 and thereafter the cylinder i4 is rotated by thehandles to screw the upper 'die 24 down in place against the upper sideof the work which brings the parts into the position shown in Fig. 2.Thereafter the firing pin 60 is struck by a detonating hammer whichexplodes the cartridge 54 to cause the burning gases to expandunder highpressure behind the piston i8. Inasmuch as the piston I8 is held againstmovement because the upper die 24 is already in" engagement with thework, there is no moveinent until the force of the burning gases hasbuilt up to .a point sufficient to force the ends of the upper die 24past the sides of the tubular members T and T. This initial movement ofthe dies together'is in the form of a relatively slow squeeze and ischaracterized by the fact that the tubular members must first take anelliptical shape to allow the corners of the dies to move to a positionwhere the dies fully surround the work. Once the corners of the dieshave moved past the work the movement of the piston and the associateddie 24 is in the nature of an impact due to the very rapid "developmentof energy of the detonated explosive charge. The impact movement of thedies reduces the diameter of the tubular members T and T in the regionof the dies, as will be understood. This action 'very tightly compressesthe outer tubular member T about the inner tubular member T' andinasmuch as the force generated by the detonated explosive charge ismany thousands of pounds per square inch, as, for example, up to or over50,000 pounds per square inch, the action of the dies is to flow themetal of the tubular parts very intimately together and effect a perfectseal.

After firing, the handle 40 is turned in the opposite direction to bringthe cylinder l4 back to its original position, the breech 58 isunscrewed, the ejector cap 56 is turned to eject the detonated cartridgeand-a new cartridge is inserted. Thereafter, the breech block 58 isreplaced and a new workpiece is positioned between the dies whereuponthe entire operation is repeated, as will be understood.

From the foregoing it will be recognized that the objects of myinvention have been achieved by the provision of novel light weightapparatus for joining tubular members together and by the provision ofan improved method for joining such members, wherein the compressing ofthe members is effected as by a squeezing action and thereafter by animpacting action. The dies in the apparatus can be readily changed toprovide dies suitable for compressing work of various size 'andperiodically the piston should be lubricated in its cylinder. Theoperation'of the apparatus and the practice of the method is relativelysimple and can be performed by the ordiembodiment of my invention andhave described in detail one manner of practicing my improved method, itshould be understood that I am not to be limited thereto or thereby butthat my invention is defined in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In apparatus for compressing a tubula member or the like, aframe having a bore therein, a cylinder adjustably received in the bore,a piston slidably mounted in the cylinder, ,an anvil carried by theframe in alignment with the movement of the piston, complementary diesremovably carried by the piston and anvil, means for advancing thecylinder in the frame to bring the dies into engagement with the tubularmemher, and means associated with the cylinder for removably receivingand detonating an explosive charge behind the piston to force the diesinto complete engagement around the full circumference of the tubularmember.

2. In apparatus for performing work on a tubular member or the like, aframe having a bore therein, a cylinder adjustably received in the bore,a piston slidably mounted in the cylinder, an anvil carried by the framein alignment with the movement of the piston, dies on the piston andanvil, said dies having longitudinally spaced, circumferentiallyextending, relatively narrow ribs on the material-engaging facesthereof, means for advancing the cylinder in the frame to bring the diesinto engagement with the tubular member, and means associated with thecylin er for removably receiving and detonating an explosive chargebehind the piston.

3. In apparatus for performing work on a tubular member or the like, aframe having an internally threaded bore tlierein, a cylinderhavadjustably received in the bore, a piston slidably mounted in thecylinder, and means associated with the cylinder for removably receivingand detonating an explosive charge behind the piston.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein further a die is rotatablycarried by the piston, and cooperating means are provided between thedie and frame for holding the die for sliding movement only relative tothe frame.

5. In apparatus for performing work on a tubu lar member or the like, aframe, a piston .slidably mounted in the frame, a cartridge-receivingbreech associated with the frame, an ejector cap covering the breech andscrewed thereon with a coarse thread, and a breech block removablysecured to the frame and covering the ejector cap.

6. In apparatus for performing work on a tubular member or the like, aframe, a piston slidably mounted in the frame, an anvil carried by theframe in alignment with the movement of the piston, a pair of dies, oneof said dies having a stud removably received in a recess in the piston,a spring detent including a compressible rubber plug for holding thestud in the recess, resilient means for holding the other die on theanvil, and means associated with the frame for removably receiving anddetonating an explosive charge behind the piston to force the dies intoengagement with the tubular member.

7. In apparatus for performing work on a tubular member or the like, aframe, a piston slidably mounted in the frame and having a substantiallylongitudinally extending passageway therein, a pressure lubricatingfitting secured to the head of the piston and connected to thepassageway, said piston having substantially circumferentially extendinggrooves on its outer surface connected to the passageway whereby thepiston can be lubricated.

8. In apparatus for performing work on a tubular memberor the like, aframe having a bore therein, a cylinder adjustably received in the bore,a piston slid'ably mounted in the cylinder, an anvil carried by theframe in alignment with the movement of thepiston, dies on the pistonand anvil, means for advancing the cylinder in the frame to bring thedies into engagement with the tubular member, and means associated withthe cylinder for removably receiving and detonating an explosive chargebehind the piston.

9. In apparatus for performing work on a tubular member or the like, aframe, a piston slidably mounted in the frame, an anvil carried by theframe in alignment with the movement of the piston, a pair of dies, oneof said dies being removably held on the piston by means of a stud andrecess, a spring detent including a compressible rubber plug for holdingthe stud in the recess, means for removably holding the other die on theanvil, and means associated with the frame for removably receiving anddetonating an explosive charge behind the piston to force the dies intoengagement with the tubular member.

ROBERT TEMPLE, JR.

